The Top 10 RV Travel Tips & RV Rental Advice

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The Top 10 Tips for Planning a Great RV Trip

The excitement of seeing great attractions and endless stretches of dreamy highway starts building inside your bones pretty early when you're planning a road trip. Few things in life are as rewarding as long, leisurely road trips. What's the secret to planning a truly great trip? Being prepared can help you feel confident about every mile you cover. In fact, taking some steps to prepare for your trip right now can help you save time and money while you're enjoying the vacation experience of a lifetime. There are some tips that can help you whether you've covered a few highways in your lifetime or you're about to rent a big RV for the first time. Take a look at the top 10 tips for planning a great RV trip.

Be Creative About Sourcing Your RV

You can definitely enjoy a fun road trip using a spacious RV, even if you don't own one. It's easy to locate a recreational vehicle that fits your needs using one of the many rental agencies or peer-to-peer sharing websites for RVs that exist today. Finding a great RV rental, USA travelers can use for trips of any length is truly easier than ever when you take time to look online and browse vehicles. Sites like RVshare.com allow you to look at thousands of RVs from the comfort of your home.

Save Money on Food While You're on the Road

The price of dining out while you're on the road can start to eat away at your travel budget after a few days. Even cheap meals that you pick up at drive-thru windows can add up to a lot when you must stop several times a day. One of the best moves you can make is to use a rental RV with a refrigerator. This will give you the ability to store leftovers and keep fresh ingredients at your fingertips. You can slash your food budget on a trip simply by having cereal with milk for breakfast every morning instead of grabbing food on the road.

Know Your Dimensions

Traveling on multiple highways and back roads during a trip means that you're bound to come across some low overpasses or lanes with weight restrictions. This can be a hairy situation if you don't know the exact dimensions of your vehicle. Of course, the need to know the dimensions of your vehicle is even greater when you're behind the wheel of a rental RV. Take a minute to write down the exact height of your vehicle on a piece of paper, and display it near the steering wheel. This could prevent you from experiencing a dangerous accident.

Keep a Roll of Quarters With You

A roll of quarters is worth its weight in gold when you're going from campground to campground in your RV. Many shower facilities and laundry areas at campsites require quarters. It is far easier to start your journey with a roll of quarters than it is to try to get change for larger bills once you're already on the road.

Plan a Short Test Drive

It might not be the best idea to zip onto the highway immediately after getting the keys to your rental RV. Take a minute to get used to the feel of being behind the wheel. Taking a practice drive on some roads you already know could help you to become familiar with the vehicle and detect any issues.

Plan Your Route in Advance

There is a certain amount of satisfaction you can get from simply winging it on a road trip. However, being overly spontaneous can end up causing you a lot of frustration. Avoid the temptation to simply follow the road blindly when trying to get to a destination. It's a good idea to use a paper map or an online navigation app to plan your route using details. You could end up wasting time and gas if you aren't properly prepared.

Call Campgrounds When Making Reservations

Many campgrounds have online systems that allow you to book campsites by looking at a map and picking an available spot. However, this isn't the way true camping aficionados book their sites. The way to ensure that you'll get an amazing spot is to call the campground you'll be visiting. There is really only so much you can tell about a particular campsite by looking at a map. Placing a call will allow you to describe the type of campsite you're looking for. You can ask a campground employee to recommend a spot based on layout, view details and other specific features you care about.

Don't Race Against the Clock

The reality is that most people don't have endless amounts of vacation time. You really have to

make every minute count when you're trying to get away for a while to enjoy a fun trip with family or friends. However, this could cause you to cut it a little too close in terms of getting back from your holiday on time. Always leave a buffer for your return time that gives you wiggle room in the case of traffic or other delays. You should never put yourself in a position to speed or drive recklessly for the sake of getting back home by a certain time.

Pack Essential Spare Parts

Taking a road trip is like taking a part of your home with you on the road. We all know that homes require maintenance once in a while. It's important to pack a toolkit full of essentials before you hit the road. Items like extra fuses, bulbs, nuts, bolts, connectors, jumper cables and basic tools can really save the day if you get caught in a pickle while on the road.

Prepare for Sewer Hookups

Dealing with sewer hookups is one of the grittier aspects of traveling with your RV. A little preparation can help you stay clean and content when it's time to deal with sewer-related tasks at campsites. The most essential thing you can do is to keep a box of disposable rubber gloves inside your RV at all times. These gloves will save the day when it's time to deal with sewer hookups and dump stations.